On Saturday West Ham United took an early 1-0 lead against Southampton. They threw it away and lost 3-1 after a shocking second half display.

Sam Allardyce’s men weren’t quite on top after a lackluster first half but they were ahead. The turning point of the game was Morgan Schneiderlin’s effort just before half time which made it 1-1 as the Hammers squandered their advantage with some sloppy defending.

Saints totally dominated the second half as they bossed possession, had numerous chance to score and eventually banged in two more to seal a comfortable 3-1 win.

After the game Allardyce told reporters he was not happy with Mike Dean’s awarding of a corner, when it should have been a goal kick, in the lead up to Saints’s second goal. Here’s what ‘Big Sam’ had to say.

“We weren’t good enough. Southampton taught us a lesson, we weren’t sharp enough and didn’t retain the ball as well as they did, close down as well as they did and gifted them two goals. As much as they were in control and on top of the game we’ve lost two very stupid goals from set-pieces.

“The big problem I had with the corner [for the second goal] was that it was a goal-kick of course. I’ve had a look at it on the laptop and can the referee see it? Was he blocked and why didn’t he make the right decision? Having looked at it from Mike Dean’s position he’s got it horribly wrong when we don’t need it to go against us.”

Hammers fans will be upset that Allardyce has turned on the officials, when clearly his side weren’t at the races.

Allardyce’s complaints may be just, but Saints had earlier had a clearly legitimate goal chalked off for offside as the Hammers got away with one. Graziano Pelle tucked home at the back post when he was level with West Ham’s defense but the goal was called out for offside. Allardyce seems to have forgotten that fact as things, as they often do in soccer, eventually evened themselves out.

West Ham’s fans aired their displeasure throughout a tepid second half display, as the Upton Park faithful continue their vendetta against Allardyce and his style of play which is branded as ‘one-dimensional’ and ‘long-ball’ by many. In midweek West Ham lost on penalty kicks to League One Sheffield United and after a promising win away at Crystal Palace last weekend, Hammers fans seem to be on their managers back once again.

After a poor season last term where West Ham just about stayed up but failed to impress with their displays, you get the feeling, already, that Allardyce is on borrowed time in East London. That seems crazy to say three games into the current season, but being lambasted by his own fans is nothing new to the former Bolton manager.

He has been criticized for over two years and if his team put in a few more shocking displays like this, West Ham’s fans may get what they wish for. Allardyce out.